OGDEN (UT)
The Salt Lake Tribune
By Kristen Moulten
The Salt Lake Tribune
OGDEN - Aaron Marcos Montoya, his face ashen and body stiff, would not turn and face his former fellow LDS ward members Thursday as he was handcuffed and led from the courtroom after being convicted of fondling their young daughters in primary class.
Montoya, who exchanged a long look with his crying wife, Angela, was shocked by the jury's verdict after just three hours of deliberation, said his attorney, Ed Brass. "He's not doing real well."
Montoya, 33, faces as much prison time as he would if he had committed murder. The 10-year employee of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office is to be sentenced Sept. 26 in Farmington's 2nd District Court on four counts of aggravated child sexual abuse.
The former court bailiff also faces six counts involving other alleged victims in Davis and Weber counties. At least five girls ranging from 4 to 11 were abused over the past five years, charges filed in those cases allege.
Detective Sgt. Mark Sessions, of Syracuse, said he hopes Montoya will plead guilty to the other charges and spare the girls from testifying.